Every now and then a game comes along that resets the bar for a certain genre and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is one of them.

The digital only (for now) PlayStation 4 exclusive was always going to be one of the most intriguing releases of the year given its mysterious story, setting and sheer originality.

It is a first-person adventure game developed by The Chinese Room and SCE Santa Monica Studio and is in many respects a spiritual successor to Dear Esther.

Set in a large open world, EGTTR strips back storytelling to a fine art and the plot is very much what drives the game.

Based around six characters, each telling their own story and connected to landmarks in the world that evolve as the game progresses, EGTTTR takes place in a village in Shropshire in 1984 during the apocalypse.

Unlike its predecessor Esther, though, EGTTR stands apart as the gamer is allowed much more interaction, such as manipulating objects and opening and closing doors to ultimately influence the events that take place.

It’s difficult to describe the game’s story, because to detail how you obtain information is a heavy spoiler.

It is your job to unravel the mystery and find out just what happened to the inhabitants of this sleepy village. You do this by answering telephones that randomly ring or listening to messages and tuning into radios in what is a weirdly haunting experience throughout.

While the pace of movement of your character can often prove extremely frustrating and a distinct lack of save points, they are the only real blots on the copybook for this deeply original title.

Without over-egging things, this feels more like a piece of art. An interactive artwork brought to life in sumptuous detail.

Damien Lucas, reviewer

To call it a game almost seems wrong, it isn’t in the general sense of the word.

Without over-egging things, this feels more like a piece of art. An interactive artwork brought to life in sumptuous detail.

Clips of the game may come across a tad dull and certainly won’t do the actual playing experience justice. In reality dull it really is not. EGTTR is easily the best narrative-driven video game I have ever played.